Which spanning tree port type acts as a blocked port while providing a secondary path?

The correct answer is the alternate port, which serves a vital role in spanning tree protocols like STP (Spanning Tree Protocol). An alternate port is a type of port designated to provide redundancy in the network. It remains in a blocked state under normal conditions, preventing loops in the network topology, but if the active path (root port) fails, the alternate port can quickly transition to a forwarding state. This capability allows for maintaining network connectivity by providing an immediate backup path, ensuring that the network remains resilient to failures.

In contrast, root ports are designated ports on non-root switches that provide the best path to the root bridge for forwarding traffic. Their primary function is not to act as a backup but to maintain the most efficient route to the root device.

Designated ports are responsible for forwarding traffic on a network segment. They are also not alternative paths but rather the main points of traffic entry and exit for a specific network segment.

Edge ports are ports on a switch that are connected to end devices and are not expected to create any loops since they don't connect to other switches. Enabling edge ports simplifies configurations in such environments but doesn't provide redundancy in the same way alternative ports do.

Thus, the alternate port's role in maintaining a secondary path while remaining